Postal Strike

Sandie Seward · Postal Strike

I'm not blaming the posties, the job is difficult enough what with the weather and hidden dogs snapping behind letterboxes. Not to mention the chances of being bitten.

No, once again, I blame the unions. Won't they ever learn? Many years ago, I was a Post Office Telephonist, back in the days of Dolls-Eye switchboards, and manual Directory Inquiries. In 1972, I think it was, a strike was called that lasted for six whole weeks. I did not join the strikers. I was one of the "Blackleg Scum" that had to endure the fury of the Picket Line every time I went into work or left the exchange to go home. I was frightened, and eventually we had a police escort to help us. My car headlamps were smashed, my tyres slashed, and the verbal abuse that I and my non-striking collegues had to endure was hard to bear. Eventually, after six weeks, the strike was called off, and our striking collegues returned to work with their tails between their legs. (They were unsuccessful in their attempts to get a substancial pay increase.)The atmosphere inside the exchange was far from pleasent. People who, a short time previously, had been friends, were now our sworn enemies. Our shifts were spent in absolute misery, and I was glad to sign out and go home.

Why am I telling you this? And what does it have to do with the present postal strike? Sadly, not very much if I'm being honest. It's just to let you know that having experienced the damage that a strike can do, it's not something that I would ever want to live through again, and I feel sorry for the men and women who have had to resort to such drastic action against their Bosses.

They won't win! Striking does not do any good whatsoever. It never has, and it never will!

JoJo

Yes the days of climbdown by management have long gone, I saw on TV this morning that 20% of mail is sorted by other companys but they then give it back to the royal mail to post Confused

so they still deliver 100% it's the closing down of post offices that I have a problem with Evil or Very Mad

marieann

I know this isn't just concerning the postal strike but I do think it has something to do with it.

I bought a router from ebay on Saturday morning, paid immediately through Paypal and got an email confirmation of this shortly after. The seller has a good record been on ebay since 2003.

I got an email from him on Monday saying he was just waiting for Paypal to confirm the payment and then he would send the router. On Tuesday evening I received another email to say Paypal had confirmed the payment at 5.30 on Tuesday night and the router was on the way. Of course the postal strike started and I haven't received it I'm wondering has he been stalling for some reason he would know the postal strike would hold delivery up.

Wednesday morning I had an email from Paypal to tell me that a payment lying on their books for two days hadn't been claimed and did I want to cancel it.

I thought that as soon as I paid Paypal it was as good as money changing hands and the goods were cleared. Could you give me your opinion please admin.

Sandie Seward

Hi Marie, this is rather difficult. I have had a Premium Paypal account for quite a while, (verified), and it seems that the Seller hasn't claimed the payment. Firstly, did you make certain that the Paypal details of the Seller were correct? The reason why I mention this is simply that sometimes payments go astray or remain unclaimed if their is an error in the Paypal Address. Usually an e.mail address, (make certain that there are no underscores (_) in the e.mail address.) This has caught me out a couple of times, as sometimes they can be hard to see.
It usually takes between three and five working days before a demand is made to your bank to pay the amount. This can act as a buffer between the time you actually initiate payment, to the time it actually leaves your account. (The Seller gets "paid" immediately)
If I were you, allowing for the strike and all the ensuring disruption, I would give it until the end of next week before starting to worry.

Incidentally, just who did you recieve the confirmation e.mail from? Paypal, or The Seller?

marieann

Thanks for replying Sandie. I didn't give any of the sellers details to Paypal, I paid from the ebay page as soon as I hsd won, but they must have been correct because he said they had confirmed the payment on Tuesday evening. They said in Wednesday's email that it had been lying for two days and he hadn't claimed it so why did he tell me it wasn't confirmed.

I got the confirmation email from Paypal straight after I paid them on Saturday morning. I'm not worried about the router I know it will come eventually but I did think that as soon as Paypal reserved the money in my bank the goods were paid for.

The seller should have had the router because it was supposed to be one he had bought for himself that wasn't right for what he wanted. I haven't heard anyone say before that a payment through Paypal had to be cleared. I think that is what is puzzling me.

Sandie Seward

As far as I am aware, a Paypal payment "clears" instantly. This is puzzling me as well. Perhaps one of our other Members who uses Paypal can clarify? Confused

JoJo

I DON'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE ONCE A PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE IT GOES STRAIGHT INTO THE BUYER OR SELLERS ACCOUNT,I HAVE NEVER HAD TO CLAIM A PAYMENT Confused

marieann

Thanks jojo you must sell on ebay as well. I don't and this is the first time I have bid for an item, always before I have bought at the 'Buy now' price.

I have just received another email saying that because of the postal strike he has held on to the router and will send it recorded delivery on Wednesday morning. Last Tuesday's email said that it was on its way, I'm still certain it will come, but I do think I'm being messed about for some reason.

Sandie Seward

Marie, give it a few more days, and see what happens. In the meantime, I'll try to find out a bit more about the Paypal situation. I know that they can be a law unto themselves, but these days it's by far the safest way to deal online, both at home and when dealing internationally. I regularly sell to and buy from people in Austrailia and Canada, and without Paypal it would be difficult to do so, but Paypal converts the money readily into different currencies, and this really helps.

JoJo

Marie like Sandie says give it a few days,we havn't had any post for the last week and now they are starting another 48hrs, if you don't receive your item you can contact e.bay just click on the dispute sign, but sure it will be ok because you are having contact with the seller,it's when they don't respond thats when you are in trouble Confused

marieann

The router arrived yesterday so now all I have to do is work out how to use it. Thank you for the support everyone. Very Happy

browneyes

Sandie Seward

It's easy enough to get started on eBay, Browneyes. Log on to their homepage, www.ebay.co.uk and you'll see a welcome page. It asks you either "sign in" or "Register". Click on "Register" and just follow the directions.
May I just give you a bit of advice? If you plan to start selling items, it's best to buy a few cheap items first this enables you to build up your "Feedback". (Lot's of people won't deal with Newbies with no Feedback.)
If you are going to sell a car, try to take as many good photos of it as possible, showing both sides, front, and rear. Also a couple of the interior. List it's good points carefully, and it's not so good points carefully as well. Write a totally honest description of the car, including mileage, service history, any recent improvements or renewals etc. Your description, along with the photos are the only things that a would-be buyer has, and it does make all the difference. Remember, there are literally thousands of cars listed on the site, and you want yours to sell, therefore, it is essential to make it stand out from the crowd, if possible.
Don't start off the auction price too high, and don't be alarmed if you get no bidders for the first few days. Most bidding activity is done in the last six to twelve hours.
I hope this helps you. If you need any more advice (from a seasoned Ebayer), just ask. I'll be pleased to help. Very Happy

bluebedouin

You could also give eBid a try,just click on my sig pic below.That will take you straight to my store.If you would like to join, there is a link from all of my auctions(I get points that way!).eBid is free to join & list on,there are some charges(dependant on what options you choose) but nowhere near as high as greedbays!The only problem at the moment is lack of awareness & therefore shortage of buyers. Crying or Very sad

Sandie;talking of ebid," The car is the Opel Diplomat". Did it contain the opel 2.3 diesel engine?

Sandie Seward

Not too sure, Blue, the Diplomat was Opal's flagship model, and I think buyers had a choice of petrol or diesel engines. But don't forget, diesels in cars in those days were not very popular due to their noise levels and sluggishness. "Wait for the glow plugs to get hot, then, if you were lucky your engine would start.!
Another reason why private motorists didn't like diesels much was because of the smell of the stuff, and the mess it made if you were wearing good clothes. Smile

browneyes